A mark of distinction in land conservation The accreditation seal

A mark of distinction in land conservation The accreditation seal

A mark of distinction in land conservation
The accreditation seal recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national standards
for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent. The
Land Trust Accreditation Commission first awarded the seal to accredited land trusts in 2008.
Excellence
Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places
and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate their commitment to excellence by
adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the
responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from
them.
Trust
Nonprofit organizations, including land trusts, are increasingly called on to demonstrate their
accountability to the public. Accredited land trusts have voluntarily submitted their
organizations to an external, independent review of their practices. As a result, accreditation
provides the public with the assurance that the land trust displaying the accreditation seal
meets established standards for organizational quality and permanent land conservation.
Permanence
Land trusts help conserve land that is essential to our health and well-being. When land trusts
agree to protect land for the benefit of the public, in most cases they do so by promising that
the protection is forever. The accreditation program verifies that the land trust has the policies
and programs in place to keep this promise, either by caring for the land itself or transferring
the land to an entity that can.
For more information, visit the Land Trust Accreditation Commission’s website at
www.landtrustaccreditation.org.